Ever leave work and then have to return moments later after reaching your car and discovering you have no keys? Or arrive at the gym without shorts (or sports bra)? What about a quick trip to the grocery store where you failed to bring a wallet? How about a camping trip with no spatula? Or a sales presentation where you neglected to pack that projector cable? Called to order a trans and forgot to get the VIN from your customer?
At some level, we all can be forgetful, boneheaded, and arrive unprepared for life. At best, this is inconvenient and potentially humorous. At worst, we lose the sale, waste time, do poor work, or burn our fingers flipping pancakes.
My 94-year-old grandfather has pretty severe Alzheimer’s. These days, he forgets what he forgot. But for nearly all of his life, he arrived promptly and well prepared for everything. He had a very simple system. Before leaving to go do anything, he would ask himself these questions:

1. Where am I going?
2. What am I doing?
3. What do I need to do it with?

I internally chant this simple mantra before heading out on an errand, task, trip, or meeting to be nearly certain I have everything I need to succeed. The magic is that these basic questions trigger me to think about my preparedness. Over the years, I have added in a question of my own:

4. If something should go wrong, how will I handle it?

As I gain more life experience, preparedness and forethought seem to me to be the keys to success when the rubber meets the road. There aren’t many true MacGyver types out there – and I’m pretty sure he would have been even more effective with a backpack full of tools and supplies!
Your colleague that always seems to be winging it to success is probably more prepared than he or she lets on or is failing more than is easy to admit. Do you want to be known as the person who always has it together and is ready for whatever happens, the “boy scout” of your business or family? Try adding these questions to your routine. You’ll have what you’ll likely need, be more mentally prepared and confident, and ready the next time a challenge or opportunity arises.
photo credit: © wittayayut– stock.adobe.com

Being prepared usually doesn’t just happen. How does the Sales Cyclist make sure he’s ready for whatever lies ahead? What might you add to Ben’s mantra to make it your own? Comment below or share with him directly.